UW Trustees Pick Contractor for Sheridan Project

March 8, 2013 — A local
contractor has been selected to renovate and construct facilities for the
University of Wyoming’s Outreach, Research and Extension Center in Sheridan.

The UW
Board of Trustees voted today (Friday) to contract with Fletcher Construction
Co. of Sheridan for the $1.58 million project on the Sheridan College campus.

The work
will involve reconfiguration of some interior spaces in the Watt Agriculture
Center, purchased from Sheridan College by UW in 2012, to accommodate new uses.
Also included is construction of a new research greenhouse. The project,
scheduled to begin this month and be completed by the start of fall semester
classes in August, has been designed by Malone Belton Abel, P.C., of Sheridan.

The
facilities will bring together, in one location, UW’s programs of the Outreach
School, Agricultural Experiment Station, UW Extension, Student Services and
Manufacturing Works in Sheridan. UW received a $5.3 million appropriation from
the 2012 Wyoming State Legislature to purchase, renovate and expand the Watt
Agriculture Center. The Watt building is adjacent to Sheridan College’s
agriculture facilities, so the location will promote collaboration between UW and
the college on agriculture, and horticulture research and education programs.

The
highly valued Adams Ranch to the south of the Watt building has been leased
from Whitney Benefits, a nonprofit foundation in Sheridan, to Sheridan College
and subsequently subleased to UW to integrate the UW and Sheridan College
cooperative agricultural and horticultural program.

On
another construction matter, the Board of Trustees today voted to contract with
Elk Ridge Builders & Design of Laramie to construct an exterior canopy
connecting the Education Building and the Education Annex on the Laramie
campus. The $760,836 contract also includes renovation of an interior corridor
in the Education Building.

That
project also is scheduled to begin this month and be completed in August. It’s
funded by $500,000 in private gifts and a $500,000 state match.